Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report QUETTA (September 14, 2021): The six Cricket Association Second XI sides will feature in the opening event of the 2021-22 domestic season with the Cricket Associations T20 Tournament beginning on Wednesday at the Bugti Stadium in Quetta.  Two matches will be played on each day other than the final day of the tournament. The first match will start at 0930 while the second match will begin at 1330. The eight-day tournament will provide a perfect opportunity to budding youngsters to showcase their talent and get a chance to feature in the forthcoming National T20 Cup (First XI) to be played in Multan and Lahore from 25 September to 13 October. Another incentive for cricketers who have domestic contracts is the increase of PKR 100,000 in monthly retainers. The announcement was made by recently elected Chairman PCB Ramiz Raja in a press conference in Lahore on Monday. Central Punjab who won the Cricket Associations T20 last year will be looking to defend the title under Saif Badar when they take on Faraz Ali’s Sindh on the opening day. The captains of the participating teams while talking exclusively to pcb.com.pk expressed their delight over Chairman PCB’s monthly retainer increase announcement and talked about their preparations and combinations ahead of the tournament. Jalat Khan, Balochistan 2nd XI: “We had good practice sessions before the tournament. Our squad is balanced with good utility players in the side, but we will rely on our bowlers to restrict the opposing teams to help us do well in the tournament. “Chairman PCB’s announcement for increase in monthly-retainers for cricketers with domestic contracts will create a good healthy competition among the players to do well.” Saif Badar, Central Punjab 2nd XI: “The incentive announced by the Chairman PCB is really great for us, this will help us stay motivated and become more focused towards the game. The preparations for the tournament is really good, the players have worked really hard in the practice sessions and we are looking to play fearless game and defend our title. “Our combination is good, covering all bases of batting and bowling departments. We have three all-rounders in our team which are very vital for us in the T20 format.” Zohaib Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2nd XI: “The increase in monthly-retainers announced for cricketers with domestic contracts will help players to work more on their fitness to compete at the international level. “The players at our region play attacking cricket so we are looking forward to play our brand of cricket and win this tournament. “Our combination for the tournament is good with mixture of senior and young players in the squad. We have some young players who will be playing for the first time in this tournament and they have showed some great skill work in the camp.” Umair Masood, Northern 2nd XI: “The players had good practice sessions in the camp organised before the start of the season. We have a young squad as compared to other teams in the tournament and the players are really excited to perform to their best.” Faraz Ali, Sindh 2nd XI: “The increase in retainership is a pleasant surprise for us before the start of the season. It will motivate the players to do well and they will grab this opportunity with both hands. “We have been working hard in the pre-season camp especially in the T20 format to get ourselves ready in time for the T20 tournament.” Umar Siddique, Southern Punjab 2nd XI: “The increase in monthly-retainers is quite satisfying for the players to go out and express themselves in the ground. The preparation for the tournament is good, we had played some practice games in our pre-season camp and the players are eager to perform when the tournament resumes.” The squads and event schedule: Balochistan 2nd XI – Jalat Khan (captain), Awais Zia, Abdul Hanan, Abdul Nasir, Aftab Ahmed, Fahad Hussain, Fahad Iqbal, Gohar Faiz, Gulraiz Sadaf (WK), Hidayat Ullah (WK), M. Ibrahim Snr, M.Junaid, Mohammad Shahid, Najeeb Ullah Achakzai, Syed Zainullah and Taj Wali Central Punjab 2nd XI - Saif Badar (captain), Ahmed Abdullah Safi, Ali Shan, Asad Ali Jnr, Gohar Hafeez, Haseeb Ur Rehman, Junaid Ali, Kamran Afzal, M Faizan, M Irfan Jnr, Mudassar Riaz, Muhammad Imran Dogar, Muhammad Tabriaz Butt, Nisar Ahmed, Sohaib Ullah and Umar Akmal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2nd XI - Zohaib Khan (captain), Abbas Afridi, Ahmed Jamal, Aitizaz Habib, Amir Azmat, Maaz Khan, Mishal Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Nabi Gul, Niaz Khan, Sajjad Ali, Saqib Jamil, Syed Arif Shah, Tahir Khan and Yasir Khan Northern 2nd XI - Umair Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Ali Imran, Aqib Liaqat, Asad Raza, Ather Mehmood, Mubasir Khan, Munir Riaz, Nasir Nawaz, Raza Hassan, Sadaqat Ali, Salman Irshad, Sarmad Bhatti, Taimoor Sultan, Zaman Khan and Zeeshan Malik Sindh 2nd XI - Faraz Ali (captain), Ammad Alam, Arish Ali Khan, Asif Mehmood, Ghulam Mudassir, Imtiaz Laghari, Jahanzaib Sultan, Mohammad Afzal (WK), Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Umar, Rameez Aziz, Saad Khan, Saim Ayub, Shahid Meerani, Umair bin Yousuf (VC) and Usman Khan Southern Punjab 2nd XI - Umar Siddique (captain), Ahsan Baig, Ali Majid, Ali Shafique, Dilbar Hussain, Hassan Khan, Humayun Altaf, Kaleem Ullah, M Shahryar, M Sudais, Moinuddin, Mukhtar Ahmed, Shahroon Siraj, Tayyab Tahir, Umar Khan and Yousuf Babar Cricket Associations T20 schedule (all matches at Bugti Stadium in Quetta): 15 Sep - Balochistan v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Central Punjab v Sindh 16 Sep – Northern v Southern Punjab; Balochistan v Sindh 17 Sep – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Southern Punjab; Balochistan v Central Punjab 18 Sep – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Sindh; Central Punjab v Southern Punjab 19 Sep – Northern v Sindh; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Central Punjab 20 Sep – Balochistan v Northern; Sindh v Southern Punjab 21 Sep – Northern v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Balochistan v Southern Punjab 22 Sep – Northern v Central Punjab

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (September 14, 2021): A wonderful cricketer, Naseer Islam started the cricket career in the decade of 80’s from North Nazamabad from school. Later, he started to play for Young Fighters Club Karachi. Naseer also represented Karachi Gymkhana and Karachi whites. In 1988, Naseer moved to United States of America (USA) and started playing cricket for club known as Pakistan Cricket Club (PCC) in 1990. After one year, he joined Potomac Cricket Club in 1991. It was new turn in his cricket career, when he attached with ICC Cricket Club and he played important role in back-to-back victories in the 2 championship. In 2001, Naseer Islam led the VCC for five years and won three championships from Washington Cricket League. “I remember when Bangladesh national team visited Washington DC in 1995 where I got called up to represent the US national team and played as 12th man. Also, I represented the US national team for over five year and still active to perform up to mark. Now playing for Potomac cc and representing DC Hawks in the minor league as an all-rounder. Height scored is 200 run in 40 over game and hit 6 sixes in an over, “he told Sports Bulletin over his mobile from Washington District of Colambia.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (September 14, 2021) President, Swiss-Pak Friendship Forum Raja Hafeez congratulated Geneva XI Stars Cricket Club on their notable performance and playing a vital role in the promotion of the game in the region. In a message, he viewed off that XI stars were doing excellent job in promoting the cricket and providing international standard coaching facilities to budding players.    “Professional mentors are playing brilliant role to promote the Swiss Pak Sports Activities in Geneva, we congratulate all our team members including Maroof Awan, Taufeeq Khurram, Rizwan Saeed, Usman Mohammad, Taimoor Ahmed, “he said. Secretary, Véronique Zoller also hailed the role of Pakistani guys in uplifting the standard of sports in Geneva.

By Bipin Dani Intro: Despite fans wondering if this is a BCCI marketing gimmick, many think MSD and Kohli's contrasting personalities will benefit Team India Body copy: The Indian cricket board has roped in former captain MS Dhoni (MSD) as the team mentor specifically for the World Cup, which will be held in the UAE next month. MSD, who retired from international cricket in last August, has been appointed to “provide support and direction,” to the Indian team management that is currently led by head coach Ravi Shastri. The “cool” Dhoni obviously captures headlines as the helping hand for the most aggressive Team India captain, Virat Kohli. While several fans wonder if the mentor tag is a mere distraction and yet another BCCI marketing gimmick, the Who’s Who of Indian cricket, past and present, think otherwise. Those in favour… India’s former chief selector MSK Prasad believes that India has an excellent team management who has handled the team during its thick and thin for the last few years. “And MSD’s addition will only enhance this team management’s strength. Virat’s aggressiveness on the field and MSD’s cool and calm temperament will definitely help the cause for both Virat and Team India,” he adds. Prasad also thinks Dhoni will be a wonderful addition to the T2 World Cup squad as a mentor of the side. “His experience of winning three ICC Trophies as captain will definitely help the team and the team captain Virat Kohli in the upcoming mega event. More importantly, there is no better player and captain than MSD in the history of T20 who can don the role of a mentor and enhance our chances of winning the T20 World Cup,” Prasad included. Sports psychologist Anusheela Brahamchari points out how both MSD and Kohli have their own set of experiences. “Provided the contrast in their personalities don’t collide, it is a potential opportunity for the team to build unbeatable strategies and optimum energy levels,” says Anusheela. The psychologist also believes that the coach mentor and captain of a team are its pillars especially because success in sport always demands a fine combination of attacking, risk-taking behaviour and calm, strategic planning.  “A team’s coach, mentor and captain set the tone of the team spirit, interpersonal dynamics and the fine strategies. Having Dhoni as the mentor and Kohli as the captain gives the team a potential chance of achieving that balance,” Anusheela adds. More thoughts Another sports psychologist Varadayini Gorhe (Chitale) also echoed the above thoughts. “Ricky Ponting mentoring the Australian team for the Ashes also helped the coaches gain a different perspective into the strategies. Similarly, more than the personalities, I think two very experienced heads coming together may prove to be a good combo. I think MSD would carry the knowledge of winning two World cups. That itself would be beneficial to the entire team, especially those who have never worked with him,” Varadayini points out. Another person who believes that this new combination will be beneficial for Team India is India’s former left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. “Dhoni and Kohli share a good camaraderie. Virat enjoys MSD’s company and has always complimented him as a guiding force. I think the experience and understanding they have will only benefit the team,” he shares.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE (September 14, 2021):-The Pakistan men’s national cricket team will travel to Bangladesh after five years to play the hosts in three T20 Internationals and two ICC World Test Championship matches after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The national side’s tour is part of the Future Tours Programme and will commence with the T20I series, which will be staged at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, on 19 November. The second and third T20Is will be played on 20 and 22 November.   The two teams will then travel to Chattogram for the first of the two Tests at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium from 26-30 November. This match will see the two sides face-off in the apex form of the game on Bangladeshi soil for the first time since May 2015, when Pakistan won the two-match series by completing a win in the final Test by a mammoth 328 runs. The two teams will return to Dhaka to play the final Test, which will start from 4 December. Pakistan are ranked second on the ICC World Test Championship points table with one win in two matches, while Bangladesh are yet to kick of their campaign. Pakistan have immaculate record in Tests against Bangladesh with 10 wins from 11 matches. They also enjoy an impressive record in the T20Is against Bangladesh with 10 wins from 12 matches. Fixtures: 19 Nov – First T20I, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka 20 Nov – Second T20I, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka 22 Nov – Third T20I, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka 26-30 Nov – First Test, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram 4-8 Dec – Second Test, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI (September 13, 2021): Challengers and Strikers recorded comprehensive victories over Blasters and Dynamites in the Pakistan Cup for Women’s One-Day Tournament at the Oval Academy Ground and National Stadium, Karachi on Monday. Waheeda Akhtar starred with the ball as Challengers dismissed Blasters for 59 in 31.2 overs at the Oval Academy Ground. Waheeda who opened the bowling took four wickets for 11 runs in a match winning nine-over spell. She found great support from Anoosha Nasir, Saba Nazir and Syeda Masooma Zahra who all took two wickets each as Blasters were sent packing for a low score. Challengers chased down the target in 21 overs with Sidra Amin and Iram Javed contributing 25 and 18 unbeaten runs respectively. Waheeda was named player of the match. Over at the National Stadium, Strikers recorded a thumping 65-run win over Dynamites. Batting first, Strikers posted 237 for eight in their allotted 50 overs. Opener Ayesha Zafar top-scored with 65 off 66 balls, her innings included nine fours. Kainat Imtiaz contributed 57 off 73 balls, the Strikers captain hit five fours in her innings. Ghulam Fatima and Maham Tariq took two wickets each. Dynamites were bowled out for 172 runs in reply in 43.2 overs. Captain Muneeba Ali scored 51 off 70 balls (five fours, one six). Aliya Riaz (29) and Maham Tariq (24) were the only other batters to make significant contributions as Strikers bowlers took wickets at regular intervals. Player of the match Tooba Hassan took four wickets for 28 runs from her leg-breaks, Fatima Khan took two wickets for 10 runs in her four overs. Scores in Brief: Challengers beat Blasters by six wickets Blasters 59 all out, 31.2 overs (Sidra Nawaz 19; Waheeda Akhtar 4-11, Anoosha Nasir 2-6, Saba Nazir 2-8, Syeda Maso0ma Zahra 2-16) Challengers 60 for 4, 21 overs (Sidra Amin 25 not out, Iram Javed 18 not out; Nida Dar 3-16) Player of the match: Waheeda Akhtar Strikers beat Dynamites by 65 runs Strikers 237 for 8, 50 overs (Ayesha Zafar 65, Kainat Imtiaz 57; Ghulam Fatima 2-30, Maham Tariq 2-47) Dynamites 172 all out, 43.2 overs (Muneeba Ali 51, Aliya Riaz 29, Maham Tariq 24; Tooba Hassan 4-28, Fatima Khan 2-10) Player of the match: Tooba Hassan Next matches: 15 September – ChallengersVvs Strikers, National Stadium Dynamites Vs Blasters, Oval Academy Ground.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE (September 13, 2021): Former Australian batsman Matthew Hayden and former South Africa pacer Vernon Philander have been appointed batting and bowling coaching consultants for Pakistan men’s national cricket team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board’s 36th Chairman Ramiz Raja announced on Monday. “The national side has the potential to win the World Cup and we need to back the side selected for the global event,” he said while addressing media at the National High Performance Centre following his unopposed and unanimous election as PCB’s Chairman. “We need to fine-tune our plans. Pakistan cricket’s DNA consists fearlessness, and we need to define a proper model and provide clarity to achieve desired results.”  Ramiz Raja announced 192 cricketers with domestic contracts will see an increase of PKR100,000 in monthly retainers across all rungs. This means that domestic men’s cricketers in the 2021-22 season, which begins with the Cricket Associations T20, the Second XI competition, from 15 September at the Quetta’s Bugti Stadium, will now earn between PKR140,000 to PKR250,000 per month, which is an increase of 250 per cent for the players in the D category, the lowest category. “It is our duty to care for our cricketers and continue to take measures which strengthen our system,” Ramiz said. “This will also play a role in ending any uncertainty surrounding the current cricket structure; the welfare of present and former cricketers is paramount to me.” In a bid to further strengthen the age-group structure and ensure that young cricketers are fully equipped for the modern-day cricket, Mr Ramiz Raja announced plans to launch an U19 T20 league to develop cricketers from the nascent stages. “We need to develop an environment in which we generate professional cricketers at young level,” he said. “This will help the HBL Pakistan Super League franchises as well, who are on the lookout for youngsters. I would like the former greats to coach them. We need to give push to the age-group cricketers so they can excel in the sport from the early age.” Ramiz Raja also said that it was important to improve the quality of pitches at the grassroots level, as they are integral for the development of cricketers. In a move that will further strengthen the academies structure and provide upcoming cricketers with the desired facilities to enhance their skillsets and improve their fitness levels, Mr Ramiz Raja said high performance centres will be established in interior Sindh and Balochistan.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE (September 13, 2021):-Former Pakistan captain and the member of 1992 World Cup winner team, Ramiz Raja, was elected unanimously and unopposed as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s 36th Chairman for a three-year term in a Special Meeting presided over by the PCB Election Commissioner, Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat Saeed. Ramiz Raja, along with Asad Ali Khan, was nominated by the PCB Patron, Prime Minister Imran Khan, on the PCB Board of Governors on 27 August for a three-year term, where they joined Aasim Wajid Jawad, Alia Zafar, Arif Saeed, Javed Kurieshi (all independent members) and Wasim Khan (PCB Chief Executive). Ramiz Raja is Pakistan’s 18th Test and 12th ODI captain, and played 255 international matches in which he scored 8,674 runs in the period from 1984 to 1997. He has previously served the PCB as its Chief Executive from 2003-2004, has represented Pakistan on the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and presently sits on the MCC World Cricket Committee. He has been a successful broadcaster with world’s leading cricket networks and widely regarded as the voice of Pakistan cricket. Ramiz Raja is only the fourth former Pakistan international cricketer to head the PCB after Abdul Hafeez Kardar (1972-1977), Javed Burki (1994-1995) and Ijaz Butt (2008-2011). Addressing the BoG following his election, Ramiz Raja said: “I am thankful to all of you for electing me as the PCB Chairman and look forward to working with you to ensure Pakistan cricket continues to thrive and grow stronger, both on and off-the-field. “One of my key focuses will be to help introduce in the Pakistan men’s cricket team the same culture, mind-set, attitude and approach that once made Pakistan one of the most feared cricket playing nations. As an organisation, we all need to get behind the national team and provide them the desired assistance and support so that they can produce that brand of cricket, which the fans also expect from them each time they step on to the field of play. “Obviously, as a former cricketer, my other priority will be to look into the welfare of our past and present cricketers. The game has and will always be about the cricketers and, as such, they deserve more recognition and respect from their parent institution.”    

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD (September 13, 2021): The Trinbago Knight Riders finished in top spot in the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier thanks to a four wicket win over the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. The Knight Riders will now face the Saint Lucia Kings in the first semi-final on Tuesday 14 September. The Patriots finish third in the points table and they will face the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the second semi-final which takes place later that same day. It was the bowling of Ali Khan and the batting of Kieron Pollard who took the Knight Riders to victory, a win they wrapped up with an over to spare. The Patriots got off to a steady start thanks to Joshua Da Silva who had been pushed up to open in the absence of the injured Devon Thomas. The young wicket-keeper batsman kept things steady after Chris Gayle was dismissed for 5 when he edged a ball from Ravi Rampaul through to Denesh Ramdin. Da Silva went on to top score, making 50 from 45 balls, but there was no really substantial partnership in the Patriots innings. Sherfane Rutherford and Dwayne Bravo both made 25 but just as it looked as if they would launch in the death overs they were both dismissed in the midst of a 10 ball period that saw the Patriots lose four wickets. Rather than exploding over the line the Patriots limped to 147/7 with Ali Khan the star for the Knight Riders, claiming 3/19 on his return to the starting line-up. The Knight Riders chase got off to a sedate start as they reached 34/1 at the end of the PowerPlay. The only wicket to fall in the first six overs was that of Lendl Simmons who was dismissed by a brilliant Fabian Allen catch at backward point off the bowling of Naseem Shah. Two wickets in three balls pinned back the Knight Riders innings with Ramdin and Colin Munro both dismissed. Things changed when Pollard came to the crease as he made his way to fifty from just 20 balls. Pollard was dismissed just two balls after passing his fifty but the Knight Riders lower order saw them to victory. Trinbago Knight Riders 150/6 (Pollard 51, Udana 25; F Ahmed 2/16, F Allen 1/9) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 147/7 (Da Silva 50, Bravo 25, Rutherford 25; Ali Khan 3/19, Udana 2/28)  by four wickets     

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (September 12, 2021): The St Kitts & Nevis Patriots returned to winning ways with an eight wicket victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders to seal a spot in the latter stages of the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League. The Patriots bowled brilliantly and then backed that up with a dominant batting display that saw them knock off the victory target with 32 balls to spare. It was Evin Lewis who was the star of the show, making 102 from just 52 balls. The Knight Riders got off to a slow start in the face of some excellent bowling from the Patriots. They reached the end of their PowerPlay at 28/2 with both Lendl Simmons and Denesh Ramdin dismissed caught on the mid-wicket boundary. Ramdin could have gone an over earlier, but Ravi Bopara put down a simple chance. Thankfully for the Patriots this did not prove too costly. A fifty-run stand between Darren Bravo and Colin Munro steadied the ship and brought the Knight Riders back into the contest. Munro would go on to top score with 47 but when Darren Bravo went for 22 the Knight Riders lost momentum once again. When Munro and Kieron Pollard went in successive balls bowled by Jon-Russ Jaggesar it looked as if the Knight Riders would set a sub-par total but some big hitting from Sunil Narine took his team to 159/7. The Patriots innings got off to a flying start thanks to Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle who was promoted to open as a result of an injury to Devon Thomas. They reached 67/1 from their PowerPlay overs with Gayle the wicket to fall for 35 from 18 balls. When Gayle went it was Lewis who took up the attack, passing his fifty from just 27 balls. While Narine was economical, returning figures of 0/10 from his four overs, the rest of the Knight Riders bowlers struggled for control in the face of the Lewis onslaught. Bopara and Lewis shared an 85-run stand, and Bopara contributed just seven runs as the Patriots opener smashed the ball to all parts. This win moves the Patriots back to the top of the table and guarentees them a space in the semi-finals on Tuesday 14 September. St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 160/2 (Lewis 102*, Gayle 35; Pollard 1/20, Khan 1/54) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 159/7 (Munro 47, Narine 32*; Jaggesar 3/32, Drakes 3/32) by eight wickets